Syracuse Police DepartmentNPR Digital Services RSS Generator 0.94NPR Digital Services RSS Generator 0.94Syracuse Police DepartmentMon, 23 Oct 2017 08:07:15 +0000Syracuse Police Departmenthttp://wrvo.org
Tom MagnarelliEarlier this year, the Syracuse Common Council allocated funding for the city to hire more police officers. But Mayor Stephanie Miner’s administration said it has no intention of training a new class of officers.Syracuse mayor will not hire more police officers despite council's requesthttp://wrvo.org/post/syracuse-mayor-will-not-hire-more-police-officers-despite-councils-request
109758 as http://wrvo.orgFri, 20 Oct 2017 08:09:23 +0000Syracuse mayor will not hire more police officers despite council's requestTom MagnarelliThe Republican candidate running for mayor of Syracuse says if elected, she would hire 50 additional police officers for the city. Laura Lavine blasted the city’s violent crime rate, calling it a bigger sign of Syracuse’s decline. Standing in front of a bullet-ridden, Skiddy Park police substation, renovated after a deadly riot on Father’s Day last year, Lavine said the station is staffed so sporadically that shooters fire upon it with little fear of getting caught. “Current levels of police personnel are at record lows," Lavine said. "As mayor, I will increase the number of officers to make Syracuse safer.” There are currently 420 police officers in Syracuse. Lavine said hiring more will mean extra time to conduct community policing. “What that means is you have enough officers who will get to know the residents, get to know the youth by name," Lavine said. "Knock on the doors of businesses. Hi, I was here yesterday, anything new? What’s going on? We need those relationships. As itLavine calls for hiring 50 additional Syracuse police officershttp://wrvo.org/post/lavine-calls-hiring-50-additional-syracuse-police-officers
108830 as http://wrvo.orgFri, 29 Sep 2017 08:16:57 +0000Lavine calls for hiring 50 additional Syracuse police officersTom MagnarelliThere have been some bumps in the road since ride-hailing services like Uber and Lyft started operating in upstate New York more than a month ago. One concern has been traffic congestion in a small, popular area of downtown Syracuse.As ride-hailing takes off upstate, Syracuse experiences some bumps in the roadhttp://wrvo.org/post/ride-hailing-takes-upstate-syracuse-experiences-some-bumps-road
106543 as http://wrvo.orgThu, 03 Aug 2017 08:37:00 +0000As ride-hailing takes off upstate, Syracuse experiences some bumps in the roadTom MagnarelliA vote this week to give the Syracuse Police Department $1.6 million for new vehicles became a lightning rod for a bigger issue. Some Syracuse Common Councilors say various spending items should be delayed because of the financial health of the city.Fearing fiscal control board, Syracuse councilor says curb some spending until after electionhttp://wrvo.org/post/fearing-fiscal-control-board-syracuse-councilor-says-curb-some-spending-until-after-election
104815 as http://wrvo.orgThu, 22 Jun 2017 08:43:00 +0000Fearing fiscal control board, Syracuse councilor says curb some spending until after electionTom MagnarelliThe family of a recent homicide victim in Syracuse is pleading with the public for help in solving the young man’s murder. It comes at a time when violence tends to increase each year. Rasheada Caldwell, the mother of Rasheed Baker, 21, who was shot and killed earlier this week, called her son an awesome kid who loved everyone. He was a former all-CNY high school football player, who then went on to Onondaga Community College. “Anyone knows anything about what happened to my son, my only son, please call," Caldwell said. "We need justice; we need that person caught, inside a jail. Please.” The African-American community in Syracuse, including city officials like Common Councilor Helen Hudson, stood behind Caldwell to demand anyone with information come forward as police continue to investigate who killed Baker. “We’re going to push you out," Hudson said. "You’re not going to continue to keep murdering in this city and we’re going to keep closing a blind eye. You’re no longer going toAfrican-American Syracuse officials seek public's help in young man's murderhttp://wrvo.org/post/african-american-syracuse-officials-seek-publics-help-young-mans-murder
104261 as http://wrvo.orgFri, 09 Jun 2017 08:46:00 +0000African-American Syracuse officials seek public's help in young man's murderTom MagnarelliThe Syracuse Common Council has passed a budget that includes some controversial changes to what Mayor Stephanie Miner had proposed. Miner said she will veto the changes. The council has cut overtime from Syracuse’s fire and police departments by $1 million each. But Councilor Steven Thompson said the money cut for police overtime has been shifted to hire new officers. “Of course we would like to see overtime go down," Thompson said. "We have no belief that it probably will drop too much this year, but going forward, when those officers are on the job, it will replace 30 people that could have been getting overtime.” Miner’s administration said they are not compelled to spend the money allocated on a new class of police officers. Miner called the cuts nonsensical and a risk to the city. Also on the chopping block was the annual funding for the Syracuse Land Bank which acquires tax delinquent properties. Councilor Jean Kessner said the land bank has a healthy fund balance. “We do notSyracuse council passes budget with changes; mayor vows to vetohttp://wrvo.org/post/syracuse-council-passes-budget-changes-mayor-vows-veto
102929 as http://wrvo.orgTue, 09 May 2017 08:40:00 +0000Syracuse council passes budget with changes; mayor vows to vetoEllen AbbottDozens of alleged members of one of Syracuse’s most notorious gangs are off the street following Operation Bricktown, the first series of arrests in an initiative from the New York state attorney general’s office to get drugs off the streets. New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman came to Syracuse Thursday to announce the arrest of more than 50 individuals with 370 crimes, ranging from drug dealing to murder conspiracy charges. Many of the individuals are allegedly members of the Bricktown Gang. "They have terrorized the southside of Syracuse for more than a decade," Schneiderman said. "Today we take a big bite out of that sort of terrorist activity." Over the course of a year-long investigation led by the attorney general’s Organized Crime Task Force and Syracuse police, authorities confiscated cocaine, heroin, drug paraphernalia and several weapons, including one that had been involved in 13 shots fired incidents in Syracuse. Schneiderman believes it was a communal weapon passedNew York attorney general's office, Syracuse police arrest 52 in drug gang crackdownhttp://wrvo.org/post/new-york-attorney-generals-office-syracuse-police-arrest-52-drug-gang-crackdown
102453 as http://wrvo.orgFri, 28 Apr 2017 08:34:00 +0000New York attorney general's office, Syracuse police arrest 52 in drug gang crackdownTom MagnarelliA deficit of more than $18 million currently exists in the proposed budget of the city of Syracuse. About $13 million dollars is being allocated in overtime to the police and fire departments. Some councilors say the way to reduce overtime is to hire more staff. Syracuse Fire Chief Paul Linnertz said the department has 28 firefighters in training. “But we’re expecting that this influx of firefighters is going to temporarily reduce the amount of overtime we have through the next few months," Linnertz said. "But then as people continue to retire, that number will change again, there will always be the need for overtime.” Retirement is also a concern for the police department. More than 100 officers are eligible for retirement. The mayor's proposed budget only allocates for the 434 police officers currently on the force. Councilor Joe Nicoletti said that needs to change. “I believe the council and the mayor should come together and figure out a way to add more police officers to theProposed Syracuse budget allocates $13 million in overtime to police, fire departmentshttp://wrvo.org/post/proposed-syracuse-budget-allocates-13-million-overtime-police-fire-departments
102416 as http://wrvo.orgThu, 27 Apr 2017 08:29:00 +0000Proposed Syracuse budget allocates $13 million in overtime to police, fire departmentsTom MagnarelliThe city of Syracuse received a $100,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice last year to develop a pilot police body camera program. But the program still has not been implemented. The issue is what kind of policy the Syracuse Police Department will have for their body camera program. First Deputy Chief Joe Cecile said their policy was ready to go when new guidelines from the federal government and the American Civil Liberties Union made police go back to the drawing board and change it. “That put our policy in flux," Cecile said. "We didn’t want to throw these things on our officers out there without having this policy formulated completely.” Syracuse based its policy off of a blueprint the Onondaga County District Attorney’s Office made last year that other municipalities are using. Some updates of the ACLU’s body camera recommendations include guidelines for when a video gets released, who watches it first and which videos are made public. On top of all that, U.S. AttorneyPilot program for Syracuse police body cameras stalls as policy changeshttp://wrvo.org/post/pilot-program-syracuse-police-body-cameras-stalls-policy-changes
101570 as http://wrvo.orgThu, 06 Apr 2017 08:52:00 +0000Pilot program for Syracuse police body cameras stalls as policy changesAnnalisa PardoThe Syracuse Police Department is updating the way they keep track of gangs and gang violence in Syracuse. At the city’s common council meeting this week, the council approved the department’s request to purchase a new software system called Gangscope. The program is an online database that allows authorities to closely monitor gang activity. Syracuse Police Department Captain Richard Trudell said their current database is outdated and sees this new technology as a way to be more proactive against gang activity. “The vast majority of our shootings and our gun violence in the city of Syracuse is attributed to gangs and gun violence by groups,” Trudell said. “So having the best intelligence on whoever is in those gangs or groups allows us to be proactive and conduct enforcement.” Trudell said one of the biggest concerns surrounding the purchase of the new technology is the process of purging old gang members. But he said the department follows federal guidelines when it comes to purging.Syracuse Police Department gets new technology to combat gang activityhttp://wrvo.org/post/syracuse-police-department-gets-new-technology-combat-gang-activity
100690 as http://wrvo.orgThu, 23 Mar 2017 06:42:00 +0000Syracuse Police Department gets new technology to combat gang activityTom MagnarelliThe Syracuse Common Council has voted to pay for the technology that will allow police to hear gunshots fired in the city in real time. The ShotSpotter program is expected to cost around $200,000 annually. The council approved $300,000 for its first year. The city is signing on to a subscription service with the Silicon Valley-based company, ShotSpotter. Between 45-60 acoustic sensors will be installed in a three-square mile radius of Syracuse. The sensors detect when a gunshot occurs and alerts police squad cars, 911 and investigators. ShotSpotter regional director Jack Pontious said police will get the location and the audio file of a gunshot. “Which is extremely important because then they know how severe the event is," Pontious said. "Is it more than one shooter? Is it a drive-by? Is there more than one weapon? Is it in the front yard, is it in the back yard, it is on the street? All things that are important to the chief and his team.” The Syracuse Police Department will determineFunding approved for gunfire sensors, could come to Syracuse by springhttp://wrvo.org/post/funding-approved-gunfire-sensors-could-come-syracuse-spring
100256 as http://wrvo.orgMon, 06 Mar 2017 09:29:00 +0000Funding approved for gunfire sensors, could come to Syracuse by springEllen AbbottThe city of Syracuse is adding some new technology to it’s arsenal that it hopes will help reduce crime.Gunfire sensor could help make Syracuse police more efficient, successfulhttp://wrvo.org/post/gunfire-sensor-could-help-make-syracuse-police-more-efficient-successful
98316 as http://wrvo.orgMon, 16 Jan 2017 09:39:00 +0000Gunfire sensor could help make Syracuse police more efficient, successfulTom MagnarelliThe Syracuse Police Department held a civilian police academy this week to expose some members of the public to what it is like to be a police officer. The training was an attempt by police and the community to better understand each other. Brandiss Pearson, of Syracuse, said she participated in the training because she has a husband who is a corrections officer and teenage children who see law enforcement differently. She asked Sgt. Derek McGork during his presentation on civilian encounters, if a police officer is allowed to racially profile someone like her son. “If all I have is a vague description, tall black male large build, I might be able to go up and ask him a question," McGork said. "He might be offended by that, maybe.” He would be afraid, Pearson said, and she said she feels like that is the issue. There is fear on both sides. “I don’t think there is really a definitive answer to my question," Pearson said. "There really is no way to really take away inherent fear, butAt civilian police academy in Syracuse, both sides get better understanding of each otherhttp://wrvo.org/post/civilian-police-academy-syracuse-both-sides-get-better-understanding-each-other
98279 as http://wrvo.orgFri, 13 Jan 2017 09:36:00 +0000At civilian police academy in Syracuse, both sides get better understanding of each otherTom MagnarelliThe city of Syracuse had a record high number of homicides in 2016. That compares to a record low number of violent and overall crimes in 2015. Syracuse officials say while homicides are tougher to control, police do have the power to curb other crimes.Despite a record high of homicides in 2016, Syracuse has had record low levels of crimehttp://wrvo.org/post/despite-record-high-homicides-2016-syracuse-has-had-record-low-levels-crime
97977 as http://wrvo.orgFri, 06 Jan 2017 09:38:00 +0000Despite a record high of homicides in 2016, Syracuse has had record low levels of crimeTom MagnarelliThe Syracuse Police Department is holding a civilian police academy to expose the public to the challenges of being a police officer. It comes after a tense year for police officers and communities in Syracuse and across the country. Several Black Lives Matter protests were held in Syracuse in 2016 demanding more independent oversight, accountability and demilitarization of police. Syracuse Police Department Detective Mark Rusin said the civilian police academy is meant to start an open dialogue, to clear up misunderstandings and to give people a glimpse at policing. "We'll have some conversations about some different topics that become critical in policing," Rusin said. "But then it will be some scenario-based training or reality-based training, where the attendees will put on some safety gear that is mandated for whatever scenario they are going through and they will have some exposure to different scenarios." The sessions will include lectures and video analysis. “Interactions withCivilian police academy in Syracuse to show public what officers go throughhttp://wrvo.org/post/civilian-police-academy-syracuse-show-public-what-officers-go-through
97936 as http://wrvo.orgThu, 05 Jan 2017 09:34:00 +0000Civilian police academy in Syracuse to show public what officers go throughTom MagnarelliThe city of Syracuse has sworn in 34 new police officers. It comes at a challenging time for law enforcement in Syracuse and across the country. Syracuse has had 28 murders so far in 2016, the most in the last five years. The Syracuse Police Department has received more calls reporting shootings this year compared to 2015. Police Chief Frank Fowler said the department is committed to trying to make a difference. On top of that, Fowler said, the police in general, can be targeted unfairly by some in the public and the media. “We take a small amount of incidents that occur across the country, and through that we gain a negative perspective and place that upon all police officers," Fowler said. "That’s the way things are reported, but it is really not the case. We need police officers out there on the street answering the call for service. As our police officers we currently have within our ranks, they get older, they reach the retirement age, they leave and go on to another chapter in34 new Syracuse police officers sworn in during challenging time for law enforcementhttp://wrvo.org/post/34-new-syracuse-police-officers-sworn-during-challenging-time-law-enforcement
96824 as http://wrvo.orgTue, 06 Dec 2016 09:34:00 +000034 new Syracuse police officers sworn in during challenging time for law enforcementTom MagnarelliA Black Lives Matter protest in downtown Syracuse on Tuesday focused on the issue of violence against black women. Protesters highlighted one incident in particular as part of the group’s continuing effort to push for police accountability. Maleatra Montanez is suing the city of Syracuse for an incident involving former Syracuse Police Officer Chester Thompson in 2015. Thompson admitted to having sexual encounters with Montanez and another woman in separate incidents while on the job. Thompson said it was consensual, but Montanez said she was forced. Thompson, who is no longer with the Syracuse Police Department, was sentenced by a judge to three years probation. At the time, the Onondaga County District Attorney's Office said the most they could charge Thompson with was official misconduct. Herve Comeau, who helped organize Tuesday’s protest, said when police commit crimes, they are held to a lower standard. “His victims are not doing well, his victims are suffering, his victims areBlack Lives Matter in Syracuse protests police misconduct incidenthttp://wrvo.org/post/black-lives-matter-syracuse-protests-police-misconduct-incident
96590 as http://wrvo.orgWed, 30 Nov 2016 09:36:00 +0000Black Lives Matter in Syracuse protests police misconduct incidentTom MagnarelliAn Onondaga County grand jury has determined the fatal shooting of a man by a Syracuse police officer in the Syracuse University area was justified. This was the third fatal shooting by Syracuse police officers this year.Fatal shooting by police in SU area justified by grand juryhttp://wrvo.org/post/fatal-shooting-police-su-area-justified-grand-jury
96094 as http://wrvo.orgWed, 16 Nov 2016 09:31:00 +0000Fatal shooting by police in SU area justified by grand juryTom MagnarelliA number of items came up on the Syracuse Common Council agenda at a recent meeting. The Syracuse Police Department will be training officers and detectives on how to obtain video footage from corner stores and other businesses. The training was approved by the Syracuse Common Council and will begin in December. Currently, only two people in the department can pull video off of devices that capture footage when there is a crime. That has led to some problems of waiting for the right detective to get to the scene. Syracuse Police First Deputy Chief Joe Cecile gave one example of a homicide in Eastwood a year ago where a store owner’s camera took footage of the suspect. A detective had to be called in to retrieve that footage. “It took him about 35 minutes to get there, we were waiting for him to get there to pull this video off this device so we could get a look at the suspect,” Cecil said. “If we had officers trained we could have pulled it off instantly and got the information out toSyracuse passes police video retrieval training, Land Bank budget; withdraws use of force letterhttp://wrvo.org/post/syracuse-passes-police-video-retrieval-training-land-bank-budget-withdraws-use-force-letter
95945 as http://wrvo.orgMon, 14 Nov 2016 09:25:00 +0000Syracuse passes police video retrieval training, Land Bank budget; withdraws use of force letterTom MagnarelliStudents at Syracuse University’s School of Social Work in Falk College are learning about the ramifications and public policies regarding gun violence in the city of Syracuse. Activists spoke with students recently about how race and economic inequality factors into gun violence in the community. Clifford Ryan, a prominent advocate in Syracuse who lost his son to gun violence, said he spoke with SU students to shed light on the plight of the urban community, what he went through growing up and how he dealt with losing family members. Ryan said it is his duty to bring it to the broader community’s attention. “That’s very important in the dynamics of trying to restructure the relationships between the communities and races and the healing process and the changing of that and correcting it,” Ryan said. "Everything, all of the above, is needed to bring our community back to what it was and should be and can be.” The Syracuse Police Department has received more calls reporting shootingsGun violence forum in Syracuse exposes SU students to plight of urban communitieshttp://wrvo.org/post/gun-violence-forum-syracuse-exposes-su-students-plight-urban-communities
95454 as http://wrvo.orgTue, 01 Nov 2016 08:37:00 +0000Gun violence forum in Syracuse exposes SU students to plight of urban communities